Step 1 · Thinking about buying

Where are towns like the one I love?

Enter a town you like, or the one you’re leaving, and find the places most like it: similar incomes, home prices, commute, age of homes and more. Look nearby, in other states or only where homes cost less.

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Towns most like Cathedral City, CA 92234

Cathedral City: median income $73,572, home value $453,100, $290/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Mcminnville, OR 97128 95%865$75,896$457,600$288 Very close on everything we compare
Carson City, NV 89701 92%411$73,184$444,500$299 smaller
East Wenatchee, WA 98802 92%961$87,744$450,300$287 smaller
Santa Fe, NM 87507 91%607$70,398$363,000$321 cheaper homes ($90K less)
Springfield, OR 97478 91%788$80,086$387,700$305 cheaper homes ($65K less)
Las Vegas, NV 89120 90%176$74,688$401,800$221 cheaper homes ($51K less) · smaller
Wenatchee, WA 98801 90%962$81,488$461,200$292 Very close on everything we compare
Saint George, UT 84770 89%279$70,024$458,300$269 Very close on everything we compare
Henderson, NV 89015 89%176$72,096$407,400$259 cheaper homes ($46K less) · 6 min longer commute
Las Vegas, NV 89123 89%171$84,428$447,600$251 Very close on everything we compare
Albany, OR 97322 89%826$69,808$352,900$280 cheaper homes ($100K less)
Oak Harbor, WA 98277 89%1,052$83,253$499,600$317 pricier homes ($47K more) · younger residents
West Palm Beach, FL 33406 88%2,216$77,075$397,800$259 cheaper homes ($55K less) · smaller · 6 min longer commute
Lake Worth, FL 33462 88%2,218$73,997$368,600$283 cheaper homes ($85K less) · smaller
Boise, ID 83704 88%679$73,390$388,000$281 cheaper homes ($65K less) · more walkable
Henderson, NV 89014 88%174$73,284$430,000$240 more renters
Las Vegas, NV 89145 88%176$74,529$361,900$255 cheaper homes ($91K less) · smaller
Sparks, NV 89434 88%436$91,507$457,000$302 smaller
Lacey, WA 98503 88%971$89,002$438,100$293 Very close on everything we compare
Vancouver, WA 98662 88%882$94,303$453,200$282 Very close on everything we compare
Spokane, WA 99206 88%957$81,764$404,100$206 cheaper homes ($49K less)
Pensacola, FL 32507 87%1,717$73,540$318,200$242 cheaper homes ($135K less) · smaller
Mesa, AZ 85206 87%274$75,607$357,900$239 cheaper homes ($95K less) · older residents
Salem, OR 97303 87%847$84,871$433,900$263 5 min longer commute
Central Point, OR 97502 87%688$83,488$403,300$266 cheaper homes ($50K less) · smaller

Similarity compares income, home value, price per sq ft, population, age, commute, education, walkability, owner share, single-family share and age of homes. Click a town to see its housing market. Set your own criteria with the town finder.

Finding towns like the one you love

Maybe you grew up somewhere you loved and want something like it closer to a new job. Maybe the town you want is out of reach and you’re looking for a cheaper version of it. Or you’re moving across the country and want to know which places will feel familiar. This tool starts from a town you know and finds the places most like it.

How we measure similarity

We compare eleven things for every ZIP code: median household income, median home value, price per square foot from recent sales, population, median age, average commute, the share of adults with a bachelor’s degree, walkability, the share of homes that are owner-occupied, the share that are single-family homes, and the median year homes were built. Income and home values count most, because they shape what a place costs and feels like day to day.

Each trait is put on the same scale, so a $50,000 difference in home value and a five-minute difference in commute can be compared fairly. The result is a similarity score: towns in the 90s are close matches on nearly everything, and scores in the 70s are similar with a few clear differences. For each match we list the biggest differences, like cheaper homes, a longer commute or more single-family homes.

Where to look

  • Anywhere shows the closest matches nationwide.
  • Same state or other states keeps the search where you need it.
  • Within a distance finds alternatives near a town you’re priced out of.
  • At least a distance away finds the same kind of place somewhere new.

Tick “only towns where homes cost less” to find more affordable versions of the place you like.

What it can’t tell you

Numbers can’t capture everything that makes a place feel like home: a walkable downtown, the schools, the views or the people. Use the matches as a short list, then visit. Click any town to see its housing market, including how competitive it is and how fast homes are selling.